Venom: The Last Dance is hitting theaters soon, but what happened in the last film? Here’s a quick recap!
The Venom franchise began with the aptly-titled Venom in 2018 and is so far the only true live-action success of Sony’s attempts to build up its own “Spider-Verse” movie series based on Spider-Man characters. It’s helped by the fact that it features one of Spidey’s most iconic foes, although the term "foe" is somewhat debatable here.
The original film focused on Eddie Brock (Tom Hardy), a disgraced investigative journalist who becomes the host of an alien creature. The monstrous creature gives Eddie unique strength and other skills as this bizarre odd couple ends up stopping another symbiote attack.
The movie was a massive hit and ended with Eddie heading to an interview with imprisoned serial killer Cletus Kasady (Woody Harrelson). That set up the sequel Venom: Let There Be Carnage.
Caution: This article contains SPOILERS for Venom: Let There Be Carnage and Spider-Man: No Way Home
Venom: Let There Be Carnage recap
During an interview, Cletus bit Eddie, which allowed him to swallow some of the alien blood. It infected Cletus, transforming him into the more twisted symbiote Carnage. He broke out his childhood love, Frances Barrison (Naomie Harris), who had a sonic scream power and, as a result, is also known as Shriek. The pair embarked on a bloody spree, with Eddie trying to stop them.
That was complicated by Eddie and Venom having beef over Venom’s violence and the symbiote briefly leaving Eddie. Eventually, Eddie’s ex, Anne (Michelle Williams) talked the symbiote into rejoining Eddie. Meanwhile, Detective Patrick Mulligan (Stephen Graham) tried to interfere only to be caught in a huge battle between Venom and Carnage in a church.
In the end, Venom was able to use Shriek to separate Cletus and his symbiote so Venom could devour Carnage and kill Kasady, with Shriek dying in the collapsing church. Mulligan survived but his eyes were glowing blue, hinting he’d somehow been infected by a symbiote.
The mid-credits scene had the pair at an island resort, with Venom showing Brock more of his abilities. That had them suddenly shifting into another universe just as the TV showed footage of J. Jonah Jameson exposing Peter Parker as Spider-Man - in events that took place in the Marvel Cinematic Universe movie Spider-Man: Far From Home. Venom mused, “This guy,” as the viewer realized the pair were now in the MCU.
The post-credits scene for 2021's Spider-Man: No Way Home showed Eddie and Venom in a bar going over the differences between worlds. The two suddenly vanished, returning to their own Earth (due to a spell performed by Doctor Strange in that movie), unaware a part of the alien symbiote had been left behind.
What does this mean for Venom: The Last Dance?
Some fans may have been disappointed that Venom was left off the big battle in Spider-Man: No Way Home, but it sounds like it was just the logistics of filming. The third film in the Venom franchise, however, is set to be the finale of the movie series and even though it might not follow up on the events of the MCU movie (although you never know), it won't forget that Eddie and Venom are fugitives from the law.
As the trailer reveals, Venom and Eddie being hunted by both the military and a deadly force from the stars. The first of those threats was a long time coming for the chaotic pair, but the second will no doubt prove to be their greatest challenge. The film's trailer also suggests that this could be to do with whatever symbiote possessed Detective Patrick Mulligan in the previous movie.
The film looks like it's going to be more larger-than-life than the franchise has ever been before, as the pair will be on the run, leading to some “road trip” antics that include possessing a horse. They also tangle with the rumored villain Knull, the “king” of the symbiotes.
As the movie looks to wrap up this trilogy in an epic way, fans can be sure Venom is ready to go out in dark style.
Venom: The Last Dance premieres in theaters October 25.